Lever switch



c. A. AQUILLON 3,076,874

LEVER SWITCH Filed May 27, 1960 6i jg 4 fi \j (f2 41 62 her v a, linrted 3,075,874 LEVER SWllQH Charles A. Aauillon, West Newton, Mass, assignor to Ark-Les Switch Corporation, viatertown, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed May 2'7, 1965), Ser. No. 32,235 8 Claims. (til. Zlltl-6) This invention relates to electrical switches and more particularly to a novel lever switch.

it is a major object of the invention to provide a novel switch having a minimum of components which may quickly and easily be snapped together without the use of additional fastening members. This has been accomplished, in general, by providing an insulating housing member adapted to receive and retain sheet metal terminal members and a switching member held for pivotal movement relatively to the terminal members, all in such a way that the members cannot accidentally be removed from the insulating housing, but nevertheless may be quickly and easily insulated thereinto.

It is another object of the invention to provide a switch especially useful with plugboards, which may readily be temporarily mounted thereon or to one another and which is adapted to receive jack type terminals.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the novel lever switch of the invention;

FIGS. 2 FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side elevation taken on the lines i-E- of MG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are respectively top and bottom plan views taken on the lines 55 and 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FiG-S. 7 and 8 are respectively a plan view and a side elevation of the terminal member of the switch of FIGS. l6; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the switching member of the switch of FIGS. l-6.

Referring to the drawings, the novel lever switch of the invention includes but three types of elements, namely, a plurality of terminal members, herein shown as three in number and generally designated 2% with individual designations Z ic, 2th! and 2hr, a switching member generally designated S ll, and a housing generally designated The electrical configuration of the switch shown is that of a single polo, double throw switch with a center oil position. Other configurations could be used as well, such as a single pole single throw configuration, which would need but two terminal members it or a multiple circuit configuration with more than two circuit connecting positions which might need four or even more terminal members 2%. It will be apparent as the description proceeds that the preferred switch herein described may readily *e modified to produce other switch configurations utilizing the simplified construction characteristic of the switch of the invention. The working elements of the switch, the terminal and switching members, have been shown in FIGS. 79 in their unassembled state, as well as assembled within their housing as appears in FIGS. 1-6.

Turning first to the terminal members 2% as shown in FiGS. 7-8, such are of general .l-shape of suitably conducting spring sheet metal with a long arm 22 and a short arm 24 and a circularly bent portion 23 therebetween. Normally, in unassembled condition, the arms are diverging for spring action when assembled as will be cinafter more fully explained. The long arm 22 is provided with a transversely outwardly extending lug 26 at one side of its end, while the short arm 24 is provided and 3 are end elevations of the switch of can:

with a detent 28 providing a recess adjacent its end on its outer surface.

The spring sheet metal switching member 3d, as is best shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, is generally straight and fiat, although wider at its central portion than its ends and is normally bent before assern ly out of a plane at a highly obtuse angle for spring action after assembly. At one end, it is provided with a pivot portion 32 bent-up generally at right angles to the member 33, said bent-up portion having a circular surface portion 33 thereon providing a pivot shaft with an axis 325 perpendicular to the general plane of the member. Generally centrally of the switching member Bill, a raised detent 34 is provided on the opposit side from the ben.tup portion 33. The free opposite end portion as extends beyond the detent 34 to provide a switch operating lever.

In general, three terminal members, 230, the central member, it'll, the left terminal member (PEG. 3), and a r, the right terminal member (FIG. 3), are assembled in parallel, laterally spaced planar configuration with the switching member 36 pivotally mounted adjacent thereto for movement in a plane past and contacting the outer surfaces of the short arms 24c, 2 :1, and 24-1- of the terminal members Ziic, Zill and 2hr. The pivotal mounting of switching member Ed is for rotary movement in said plane about a pivot axis 38 perpendicular to said plane and spaced beyond the ends of the short arms 24c, 241, and 2dr of said terminal members adjacent to the ends of the long arms 22c, 22], and 221' but spaced along said axis therefrom. The raised detent 34 in the switching member cooperates with the detent 230 or" the central terminal member Zilc to position said switching member centrally thereof in an electrically oil position, said member 39 being of a terminal contacting widthwise dimension insuiiicient to interconnect with adjacent terminal members 25*! and 2dr when so centered. The raised detent 34- also cooperates when switched to one of its alternate on positions (shown dotted in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6), at it is then located by the space between two adjacent terminal members for electrical interconnection thereof (PEG. 5), said member 30 again being insufiicient in its widthwise dimension to interconnect more than an adjacent two of said terminal members. The shape of switching member 39 with its widthwise dimension wider than its ends, together with the termination of the short arms 24c, 24!, and 241' well short of the pivot axis 3% of said switching member aids in establishing a desirabl electrical configuration.

in order to assemble and maintain the working elements of the switch in their operation position as is described above, a housing ill is provided, such housing consisting of a genemliy rectangular block of insulating material with a plura ty of passages and grooves as best be seen in FIGS. l-6. More specifically, passage is provided adjacent one wide housing wall said passage being open at one end and extending throughout the major portion of the le gth of the housin and thereacross between its side walls A semicircular bearing opening is provided in said wall i-l with its axis on the pivot axis above described. Below said passage 4-2,

parallel thereto and space therefrom by an intermediate wa l parallel to wall ii are three through grooves 4 ..d 49 with walls b2 and therebetween. Adjacent through grooves are cylindrical '7, 53 and 59. If desired the housovided with pins 62, 63 and 65 i serni-circular opening 43 for convenient insertion into plugboard to mount the switch.

also be provided with tongue and groove elements s and of opposite configuration on the outside surface of wide housing wall 41 and its opposite housing Zill or Mr. This may be seen in screen.

3 wall 53. to permit mounting the switches of the invention on one another.

in order to assemble the operating elements of the switch within housing it), the terminal members 200, Zill, and Z-"Ilrare inserted with their long arms 22c, 221, and 221' each in a groove 48, 47 and respectively and with their short arms Eds, 2 51, and 2dr in passage 42. They are then pressed into the housing as until their curved portions 22 come into contact with intermediate wall 45, which acts as a stop, and their lugs 25c, '26] and 26;- pass beyond the grooves and latch on the ends of Walls 54, 52 and 4d respectively which thus acts as a restraining shoulder element, as may best be seen in FIGS. 4 and 6. With the three terminal members thus locked in position, the switching member 35) is inserted bent-up end portion 32 first into passage 4-2 between the short terminal member arms 2%, 245, and 2dr and the wall it, with said bentup end portion 32 pointing away from said terminal arms until it is positioned to snap into-its cooperating bearing opening (FIG. 4-). With said bent-up end portion 32 positioned in said bearing opening 43 to pivot about axis 58, the assembly of the switch is completed, the spring action of the terminal and switching member's maintaining said end portion 32; within its bearing opening '43 as well as maintaining the switching member 36 in contact with the appropriate one or ones of terminal members 20c, H6. 4, wherein it should be noted that the arms of terminal member Zllc are gen erally parallel to one another inassembled condition, and switching member 3% is nearly flat. It may also be seen .in FIG. 2 wherein said spring action has pressed down the central terminal m'em er Ede with which switching member 3% is in contact, but that the same spring action has caused the side terminal members Zlll and 2dr to be in contact with wall 41 of passage 42.

To operate the switch, the switch is connected to the circuits to beswitched by appropriate jacks inserted into bores 57, 53 and so that such jacks will easily be in contact with the long arm 22c, 22, or 22rd a terminal member. Lever 36 is then selectively moved to one of its three positions as shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 to inter connect center terminal Zilc with either side terminal Zlll or 2hr or to center it on terminal 260 at an oil position. Other means than jacks may be used to connect circuitry to the terminal members 26c, Elli and 2hr, for example, any other conventional connectors might be substituted.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A'lever switch comprising a plurality of parallel spaced generally .l-shaped spring sheet metal terminal members, a spring sheet metal switching member pivo-tally mounted for movement generally in a plane past and contacting the outer surfaces of the short arms of said terminal members, said switching member having pivot meansproviding a pivot axis perpendicular to said plane and spaced beyond the ends of the short arms of said terminal members adjacent to the ends of the long arms thereof but spaced along said axis therefrom, and a free opposite end portion, said switching member being of a terminal contacting dimension insufficient to interconnect more than the adjacent of said terminal members, and a housing for said elements consisting of a block of insulating material having groove means positioning said terminal members in parallel spaced relationship with one another with their arms substantially parallel to and spaced from one another and positioning said switching member in a generally flat plane in spring pressure contact selectively with one or more of the outward faces of the short arms of said terminal members, said groove means including means for receiving said switching member end pivot means as a bearing therefor, with said end pivot means being maintained in said groove by the spring pressure of said terminal members against said switching d member and with "said switching member being maintained in electrical contact with one or more of said terminal members by said spring pressure of said terminal members against said switching member.

2. A lever switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes a pivot end portion bent-up away from said terminal members with a circular surface portion thereon.

3. A lever switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing groove means is adapted to position removable jack means adjacent the long arms of said terminal members for electrical connection therewith.

4. A lever switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing includes external pin means adapted to mount said switch on a plugboard or the like.

5. A lever switch comprising a plurality of parallel spaced generally J-shaped spring sheet metal terminal members, each having transversely outwardly extending lug means adjacent the end of the long arm thereof, a spring sheet metal switchingmember pivotally mounted for movement generally in a plane past and contacting the outer surfaces of the short arms of said terminal-members, said switching member having pivot means providing a pivot axis perpendicular to .said plane and spaced beyond the ends of the short arms of said terminal members adjacent to the ends of the long arms thereof but spaced along said axis therefrom, and a free opposite end portion, said switching member being of a terminal contact ing dimension insufficient to interconnect more than the adjacent of said terminal members, and a housing for said elements consistingof a block of insulating material hav- 1 ing groove means positioning said terminal members in parallel spaced relationship with one another with their arms substantially parallel to and spaced from one another and positioning said switching member in a generally fiat plane in spring pressure contact selectively with one or more of the outward faces of the short arms of said terminal members, said groove means including means for receiving said switching member end pivot means as a bearing therefor, with said end pivot means being maintainedvin said groove by the spring pressure of said terminal members against said switching member, and with said switching member being maintained in electrical contact with one or more of said terminal members by said spring pressure of said terminal members against said switching member, and stop means including means limiting the movement of said terminal members in one direction along said plane by engagement of the bent portion between their arms and in the other direction by engagement of said lug means with a restraining shoulder element on said housin".

6. A lever switch comprising a plurality of parallel spaced generally J-shaped spring sheet metal terminal members each having a detent providing a recess adjacent the end of the short arm thereof on its outer surface, a spring sheet metal switching member pivotally mounted for movement generally in a plane past and contacting the outer surfaces of the short arms of said terminal members, said switching member having pivot means providing a pivot axis perpendicular to said plane and spaced beyond the ends of the short arms of said terminal members adjacent to the ends of the long arms thereof but spaced along said axis therefrom, a raised detent in its surface cooperating with the detent in said terminal members to position said switching member selectively centrally of a terminal member and between two of said terminal members for interconnection thereof, and a free opposite end portion extending beyond said detent providing a switch operating lever, said switching member being of a terminal contacting dimension insumcient to interconnect with adjacent terminal members when centered with its detcnt in the cooperating detent of a terminal member and insufficient to interconnect more than the adjacent of said terminal members with its detent centered therebe ween, and a housing for said elements consisting of a block of insulating material having groove means positioning said terminal members in parallel spaced relationship with one another with their arms substantially parallel to and spaced from one another and positioning said switching member in a generally fiat plane in spring pressure contact selectively with one or more of the outward faces of the short arms of said terminal members, said groove means including means for receiving said switching member end portion as a bearing therefor, with said end pivot means being maintained in said groove by the spring pressure of said terminal members against said switching member.

7. A lever switch comprising a plurality of parallel spaced generally J-shaped spring sheet metal terminal members, each having transversely outwardly extending lug means, a spring sheet metal switching member normally bent out of the plane at a highly obtuse angle pivotally mounted for movement generally in a plane past and contacting the outer surfaces of the short arms of said terminal members, said switching member having a pivot end portion bent-up away from said terminal members with a circular surface portion thereon providing a pivot axis perpendicular to said plane and spaced beyond the ends of the short arms of said terminal members adjacent to the ends of the long arms thereof but spaced along said axis therefrom, and a free opposite end portion providing a switch operating lever, said switching member being of a terminal contacting dimension insuflicient to interconnect more than the adjacent of said terminal members, and a housing for said elements consisting of a block of insulating material having groove means positioning said terminal members in parallel spaced relationship with one another with their arms substantially parallel to and spaced from one another and positioning said switching member in a generally fiat plane in spring pressure contact selectively with one or more of the outward faces of the short arms of said terminal members, said groove means including a groove of circular surface portion configuration for receiving said switching member end portion as a bearing therefor, with said end portion being maintained in said groove by the spring pres sure of said terminal members against said switching member and with said switching member being maintained in electrical contact with one or more of said terminal members by said spring pressure of said terminal members against said switching member, and stop means including means limiting the movement of said terminal members in one direction along said plane by engagement of the bent portion between their arms and in the other direction by engagement of said lug means with a restraining shoulder element on said housing.

8. A lever switch comprising three parallel spaced generally J-shaped spring sheet metal terminal members normally having diverging arms, each having transversely outwardly extending lug means adjacent the end of the long arm thereof and a detent facing away from said long arm providing a recess adjacent the end of the short arm thereof on its outer surface, a spring sheet metal switching member normally bent out of the plane at a highly obtuse angle pivotally mounted for movement generally in a plane past and contacting the outer surfaces of the short arms of said terminal members, said switching ember having a pivot end portion bent-up away from said terminal members with a circular surface portion thereon providing a pivot axis perpendicular to said plane and spaced beyond the ends of the short arms of said terminal members adjacent to the ends or" the long arms thereof but spaced along said axis therefrom, a raised detent in its surface cooperating with the detent in said terminal members to position said switching member selectively centrally of a terminal member end between two of said terminal members for interconnection thereof, and a free opposite end portion extending beyond said detent providing a switch operating lever, said switching member being of a terminal contacting dimension insufficient to interconnect with adjacent terminal members when centered with its detent in the cooperating detent of a terminal member and insurrcient to interconnect more than the adjacent of said terminal members with its detent centered therebetween, and a housing for said elements consisting of a block of insulating material having a plurality of through passages with groove means positioning said terminal members in parallel spaced relationship with one another with their normally diverging arms substantially parallel to and spaced from one another and positioning said switching member in a generally flat plane in spring pressure contact selectively with one or more of the outward faces of the short arms of said terminal members, said groove means including a groove of circular surface portion configuration for receiving said switching member end portion as a bearing therefor, with said end portion being maintained in said groove by the spring pressure of said terminal members against said switching member and stop means including means limiting the movement of said terminal members in one direction along said plane by engagement of the bent portion between their arms and in the other direction by engagement of said lug means with a restraining shoulder element on said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,121,569 Peterson June 21, 1938 2,846,530 Wintriss Aug. 5, 1958 2,905,774 Hansen Sept. 22, 1959 

1. A LEVER SWITCH COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL SPACED GENERALLY J-SHAPED SPRING SHEET METAL TERMINAL MEMBERS, A SPRING SHEET METAL SWITCHING MEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT GENERALLY IN A PLANE PAST AND CONTACTING THE OUTER SURFACES OF THE SHORT ARMS OF SAID TERMINAL MEMBERS, SAID SWITCHING MEMBER HAVING PIVOT MEANS PROVIDING A PIVOT AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PLANE AND SPACED BEYOND THE ENDS OF THE SHORT ARMS OF SAID TERMINAL MEMBERS ADJACENT TO THE ENDS OF THE LONG ARMS THEREOF BUT SPACED ALONG SAID AXIS THEREFROM, AND A FREE OPPOSITE END PORTION, SAID SWITCHING MEMBER BEING OF A TERMINAL CONTACTING DIMENSION INSUFFICIENT TO INTERCONNECT MORE THAN THE ADJACENT OF SAID TERMINAL MEMBERS, AND A HOUSING FOR SAID ELEMENTS CONSISTING OF A BLOCK OF INSULATING MATERIAL HAVING GROOVE MEANS POSITIONING SAID TERMINAL MEMBERS IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER WITH THEIR ARMS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER AND POSITIONING SAID SWITCHING MEMBER IN A GENERALLY FLAT PLANE IN SPRING PRESSURE CONTACT SELECTIVELY WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE OUTWARD FACES OF THE SHORT ARMS OF SAID TERMINAL MEMBERS, SAID GROOVE MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID SWITCHING MEMBER END PIVOT MEANS AS A BEARING THEREFOR, WITH SAID END PIVOT MEANS BEING MAINTAINED IN SAID GROOVE BY THE SPRING PRESSURE OF SAID TERMINAL MEMBERS AGAINST SAID SWITCHING MEMBER AND WITH SAID SWITCHING MEMBER BEING MAINTAINED IN ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH ONE OR MORE OF SAID TERMINAL MEMBERS BY SAID SPRING PRESSURE OF SAID TERMINAL MEMBERS AGAINST SAID SWITCHING MEMBER. 